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Don Jenkins receives Medal of Honor tribute

Richard Powers and Don Jenkins

Retired US Army Staff Sergeant Don Jenkins received a Medal of Honor tribute Thursday morning at the Butler County High School Library/Media Center. The tribute was put together by Retired US Army Sergeant First Class Richard Powers for Jenkins. Powers presented the tribute to Jenkins at BCHS in front of a small crowd, including members of the Butler County Chapter NSDAR, VFW Ladies Auxillary, as well as members of the Butler County Sheriff's Department, Morgantown Police Department, and the Kentucky State Police.

Powers says that it is his goal to build a tribute display such as the one for Jenkins for each of the 81 living Medal of Honor recipients. Jenkins' tribute contains his ribbon, unit patch, rank patch, a donated doo-rag, and ammunition casings. The tribute has been placed at BCHS and will remain on display for a year before it is removed to another location.

Jenkins places the tribute in the glass case where it will be displayed.

Powers has built five tributes so far and each one is unique; he personalizes each tribute based on what the MOH recipient would like in it. His other tributes are on display at the VFW in Radcliff, the American Legion in Elizabethtown, Ft. Knox High School, and Central Hardin High School. Powers wants to put the tributes into educational settings, as well as veterans organizations, so that children can be made more aware of the MOH and what it signifies.

"A lot of kids have never even heard of the Medal of Honor, and I guarantee none of them have ever met a Medal of Honor recipient. So, I want to put (the tributes) in the schools so that when people walk by they'll look at it, stop by it, read it, maybe take a picture of it, and ask questions. When they see Mr. Jenkins walking around, they can shake his hand and thank him for what he's done," said Powers. 

As a veteran, Powers says that MOH recipients, like Jenkins, are held in very high regard.

"To me, (Jenkins) is the one everybody shines the light on; the rest of us just try to follow what he has done for us," said Powers. He added, "It's my honor to be able to do this for gentlemen like Mr. Jenkins."

After the ceremony, Jenkins said "I appreciate this, I appreciate it being here; it's quite an honor."

Don Jenkins

Then Private First Class Don Jenkins received his Medal of Honor for his heroic efforts in Kien Phong Province, Republic of Vietnam, on January 6, 1969. President Richard Nixon presented Jenkins with his Medal of Honor in March of 1971. His citation is as follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Jenkins (then Pfc.), Company A, distinguished himself while serving as a machine gunner on a reconnaissance mission. When his company came under heavy crossfire from an enemy complex, S/Sgt. Jenkins unhesitatingly maneuvered forward to a perilously exposed position and began placing suppressive fire on the enemy. When his own machine gun jammed, he immediately obtained a rifle and continued to fire into the enemy bunkers until his machine gun was made operative by his assistant. He exposed himself to extremely heavy fire when he repeatedly both ran and crawled across open terrain to obtain resupplies of ammunition until he had exhausted all that was available for his machine gun. Displaying tremendous presence of mind, he then armed himself with 2 antitank weapons and, by himself, maneuvered through the hostile fusillade to within 20 meters of an enemy bunker to destroy that position. After moving back to the friendly defensive perimeter long enough to secure yet another weapon, a grenade launcher, S/Sgt. Jenkins moved forward to a position providing no protection and resumed placing accurate fire on the enemy until his ammunition was again exhausted. During this time he was seriously wounded by shrapnel. Undaunted and displaying great courage, he moved forward 100 meters to aid a friendly element that was pinned down only a few meters from the enemy. This he did with complete disregard for his own wound and despite having been advised that several previous rescue attempts had failed at the cost of the life of 1 and the wounding of others. Ignoring the continuing intense fire and his painful wounds, and hindered by darkness, he made 3 trips to the beleaguered unit, each time pulling a wounded comrade back to safety. S/Sgt. Jenkins' extraordinary valor, dedication, and indomitable spirit inspired his fellow soldiers to repulse the determined enemy attack and ultimately to defeat the larger force. S/Sgt. Jenkins risk of his life reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

-Citation from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society

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Comments

Thank you, Don, for your service to our country, and, your contribution for our freedom. I knew you during the "younger" years. I think my brother, Thomas Slaughter, was your age. THANK YOU, again.
Thank you Don for your service and thank you Mr, Powers for your service and for all that you are doing to recognize these most deserving men.
Thanks Don for all you done for our freedom. God Bless.
Semper Fi Don Jenkins I'm proud to be your friend. The Cuz


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